This document summarizes Matt Willmore's presentation on managing app proliferation at universities. It discusses how everyone thinks they need their own app but it is important to educate departments on the true costs of app development and maintenance. It provides case studies of how Notre Dame partnered with different departments to include their content in the main Notre Dame Mobile app rather than having separate apps. This reduces costs while still meeting the departments' needs and providing a better user experience with consolidated content.

1. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017
#KUROGO2017
Streamlining the Mobile
Experience: App Proliferation
Matt Willmore
mobileND Program Manager
University of Notre Dame

2. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 2
#KUROGO2017
University of Notre Dame
• Private Catholic university located in
Notre Dame, IN
• 12,179 students, including 3,700
postgraduates
• App launched in April 2014
• 58k downloads

3. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 3
#KUROGO2017
Managing App Proliferation
• Everyone thinks they need an app
– Corollary: everyone thinks that making an app is easy
– The App Store provides that false impression – everyone has an
app!
• Education is the single most important tool in managing
campus app proliferation
– Help them understand the true cost (time, maintenance, multiple
platforms)
– Approach as a partner, not as the mobile app police
• Our mantra: be OK with creating new apps that have wholly
different functionality
– Corollary: you can do all the rights things and other apps may still

4. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 4
#KUROGO2017
Case Study: Sustainability
• Recommended that they publish a mobile
app to increase campus awareness of
sustainability efforts
• High price tag, no discussion about true
cost, maintenance, or building user base
• Partnering for inclusion in ND Mobile
allowed them to benefit from close
proximity to popular app content

5. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 5
#KUROGO2017
Case Study: Grad School
• Previously operated orientation in
Guidebook alongside undergraduate
orientation
• Partnered with Graduate School to bring
their orientation app into ND Mobile
– Benefitted from leveraging existing app
content (map, dining, etc.)
– Provided a great introduction for graduate
students into the campus app

6. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 6
#KUROGO2017
App Crowding
• Reverse issue of app proliferation
– Everyone wants to be in the app regarding of scope and campus
applicability
• Two qualifications that should be satisfied: broad campus
applicability and compelling content
• Again, education is key – listen and learn what they’re trying
to accomplish
• If content is too niche, try enlarging the scope and adding a
more broad approach to adding content – decent chance
complementary efforts exist

7. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 7
#KUROGO2017
Case Study: Arts Module
• Snite Museum of Art approached
with request to be in the app at the
top level
• Partnered to create an Arts
“springboard” module with
Publisher pages and dept. links
• Now evolving into a cohesive Arts
presence for campus
– Patrons don’t know/don’t care which
department is putting on the event,
they care about the event!

8. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 8
#KUROGO2017
Student Life
• Nearly 20 separate offices
within Division of Student
Affairs
• Office names may not
match with my specific
need
• Where do I go? How do I
get help?
• Collapsed the org chart
and focused on actionable
items

9. KUROGO HIGHER ED MOBILE CONFERENCE 2017 9
#KUROGO2017
Takeaways
• Balance to be struck between inclusiveness and user
functionality
• Focus on including “apps” that will be their very best in
Kurogo
• Embrace complementary apps if the functionality is largely
different and/or the population is largely separated from the
primary app’s user population